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Life of Women's Basketball
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The Game is Made!!
In 1891 basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith. He invented basketball for his students at the YMCA in Springfeild Mass. -
First Women's Game
The 1st women's college basketball game was played at Smith College for girls. The freshman class went up against the sophmore class. No men were allowed to watch because it was an all girl school. The physical education teacher named Senda Berenson modified rules for made by Dr. James Naismith speficically women. -
First Collegiate Game
The very first intercollegiate game is played by Stanford University and the UIniversty of California. This game was played at Berkeley. -
Senda Berenson
It wasn't until 1899 that Berenson set about modifying the rules of basketball for women. The court was divided into three areas. Attempting to steal the ball was forbidden which limited dribbling to three bounces per player. A player was allowed to hold the ball for only three seconds. -
All American Red Heads Basketball Team was Created
red headsThe RedheadsThe formation of the All American Red Heads Basketball Team was created in 1936. These women used men's rules and competed against men's teams. The team toured for more than fifty years, playing only men's teams. The women won 85-90% of all their games. The team lasted until 1986. At this time people were scared because the thought those women were not physical and could hurt their chances to have children still existed. These women were determined to break that stereotype. -
Champions!!!
Louisiana Tech defeats Cheney State and wins the 1st NCAA Women's Championship. -
Top 20
Mel Greenberg complies and releases the first women's basketball Top 20 national poll. -
Olympics
Womens basketball has its Olympic debut at Montreal Olympics. -
First Woman to Dunk
Georgeann Wells-Blackwell was the first woman to dunk in a college basketball game. She was six foot and seven inches tall and attended West Virginia University. The most amazing part about her dunk was the fact that she was using a men’s regulation ball. She was inducted into University of Houston’s Phi Slamma Jamma dunking fraternity. Georgeann was the first woman to be inducted and it was not until ten years later that another woman was inducted. -
WNBA
The WNBA was founded as a counter part to the NBA. The season runs from June-September. Playoffs start mid September. -
